Thread: Best new unit for $200

The Humminbird 561 DI model is within your price range.
The 571 DI may be if you can get a good price from one of the board sponsors here.

DI sonar or GPS… I would say that depends on whether you need more help in finding new fishing spots (DI sonar) or in finding the ones you already know about (GPS).

I've go a Humminbird 561 (black and white display, plain old sonar). About 150-160 bucks. I use it and a hand held gps and can't complain. Not as nice as alot of stuff out there, but it'll load the livewell nevertheless. I like the dual beam on the Humminbird and use it to give me a "bigger" view (or wider cone). Good luck with your purchase.

I was looking at the unit listed on cabela's below (hummingbird 561 DI). In you guy's opinion is the DI worth the extra $? The unit i have now is an old lowrance from 94. I know there has been big improvements in the sonar itself, but i see the pics of what the DI can do and it is pretty amazing.

Cabela's: Humminbird® 561 DI Sonar

That is an excellent point about the DI vs GPS. I fish mostly small lakes and have used the old pencil and map to mark spots. That works for me.

Check with Brian at BBG marine. Just give him a call tell him what your budget is and what your looking for. He will fix you up.

I just picked up a HB 581i HD DI combo (downimaging with GPS black and white unit) for $318 shipped to Gander Mountain (I tried to buy through sponsors but none had any in stock and I am not patient ha ha). It's the same as the 561 and 571 but with GPS. For the features it was the best price I could find. I wanted the GPS for finding my way back to the boat ramp after dark (fishing new lakes...the old ones I could find my way back with my eyes closed), marking fishing spots (once again new lakes...BIG new lakes) and finally for duck hunting (o'dark-thirty runs to duck hunting spots can take a lot longer without GPS). If you fish the same lakes you have for years and have no plans to go to new lakes then I would say you can skip the GPS or buy a handheld unit somewhere down the road if needed. I can't speak as to how great DI is because I have yet to even put my 581i in the boat yet, but if its something you want then get it because you will always wonder and eventually spend the money, possibly more money, later on to get what ya want. I looked at HB and Lowrance....long and hard, my advice is go with HB. They are more all in one than Lowrance and the prices are better for the features you get. Everyone says that DI and 2d sonar compliment each other and HB's come with both, Lowrance only offers the elite line (but man those elite 7's are nice if you can swing the cash) with both without an investment of 500-600 for the structure scan.
Screen size....I would say that a 5" screen is bare minimum, which will be the max size in that price range. As long as you have halfway decent eyes and aren't planning on sitting on the other end of the boat and look at the fish finder you should be fine.
If you can live with an older unit look for used! As with anything else, find a good used unit and you can save a lot of money. There are a lot of people that have to have the newest thing and will sell their old units for cheap...ya just gotta be patient....I am not so I bought new ha ha. If you are interested in finding a used unit send me a pm and tell me what you want for sure and I will help ya out looking for one.
Chris

Buy from someone you know or at least know that he will take care of you . To me this is #1 requirement . boats, rods, ff, trolling motors ect . Afew dollars more will be the best money ever spent . you can sell me 10 good ones but only 1 bad one .

I have a HB 565 and a handheld Garmin 72. Both basic units but I use em every trip on the front of the boat. That 581 sounds like the hot ticket. I'll sell you mine and get the 581 for me. The down image is lots better than basic sonar.